Discourses upon the Existence and Attributes of God

1. Mans first Transgression. If we should rip up every Vein of that first Sin, should we find any want of Wickedness to excite a just Indignation? What was there but ingratitude to Divine Bounty, and Rebellion against Divine Sovereignty? The Royalty of God was attempted, the Supremacy of Divine knowledge above Mans own knowledge envied; the Riches of Goodness whereby he lived and breathed, slighted: There is a discontent with God upon an unreasonable Sentiment, that God had denied a knowledge to him, which was his right and due; when there should have been an humble acknowledgement of that unmerited Goodness, which had not only given him a Being above other Creatures, but placed him the Governor and Lord of those that were inferior to him: What alienation of his understanding was there from knowing God, and of his will from loving him? A Debauch of all his Faculties: A Spiritual Adultery, in preferring not only one of Gods Creatures, but one of his desperate Enemies before him; thinking him a wiser Counsellor than Infinite Wisdom, and imagining him possessed with kinder affections to him, than that God who had newly Created him. Thus he joins in League with Hell against Heaven, with a Fallen Spirit against his Bountiful Benefactor, and enters into Society with Rebels, that just before commenced a War against his and their common Sovereign: He did not only falter in, but cast off the Obedience due to his Creator; endeavoured to purloin his Glory, and actually murdered all those that were virtually in his Loins.^* Sin entered into the World by him, and Death by Sin, and passed upon all Men, taking them off from their Subjection to God, to be Slaves to the damned Spirits, and Heirs of their Misery: And after all this he adds a foul imputation on God, taxing him as the Author of his Sin, and thereby stains the Beauty of his Holiness. But notwithstanding all this, God stops not up the Floodgates of his Goodness, nor doth he entertain Fiery Resolutions against Man, but brings forth a healing Promise; and sends not an Angel upon Commission, to Reveal it to him, but Preaches it himself to this Forlorn and Rebellious Creature.^†

1. Mans first Transgression. If we should rip up every Vein of that first Sin, should we find any want of Wickedness to excite a just Indignation? What was there but ingratitude to Divine Bounty, and Rebellion against Divine Soveraignty? The Royalty of God was attempted, the Supremacy of Divine knowledge above Mans own knowledge envied; the Riches of Goodness whereby he lived and breathed, slighted: There is a discontent with God upon an unreasonable Sentiment, that God had denied a knowledge to him, which was his right and due; when there should have been an humble acknowledgment of that unmerited Goodness, which had not only given him a Being above other Creatures, but placed him the Governor and Lord of those that were inferior to him: What alienation of his understanding was there from knowing God, and of his will from loving him? A Debauch of all his Faculties: A Spiritual Adultery, in preferring not only one of Gods Creatures, but one of his desperate Enemies before him; thinking him a wiser Counsellor than Infinite Wisdom, and imagining him possessed with kinder affections to him, than that God who had newly Created him. Thus he joyns in League with Hell against Heaven, with a Fallen Spirit against his Bountiful Benefactor, and enters into Society with Rebels, that just before commenc'd a War against his and their common Soveraign: He did not only falter in, but cast off the Obedience due to his Creator; endeavoured to purloin his Glory, and actually murder'd all those that were vertually in his Loyns.